Cost of Living in Wapello County, Iowa
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Wapello County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Wapello County ranks #1,767 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 44%)
Sourced county brief
Wapello County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $920 Monthly
The median gross rent in Wapello County was estimated at $920 per month, which is $88 above the Iowa unweighted county mean of $832. The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 28.8% for the 2020-2024 period. This is 3.4 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 25.4%. For those in owner-occupied housing, median selected monthly owner costs were $859, below the unweighted state county mean of $950. The median home value was $125,100, which is lower than the Iowa unweighted county mean of $171,037. Renter-household median income in the county was reported as $40,000. All figures represent snapshots from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates and do not include market predictions. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Wapello County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.8% of renter household income in Wapello County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $920 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $859. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $36,800 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Iowa unweighted mean of county median rents is $832 per month. Wapello County's $920 median is 10.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Wapello County
Rent Burden
17.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,511
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.9%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Wapello County
Median home value is $125,100. Estimated monthly cost: $999 vs. your max of $1,511.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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